Lucinda: Sects

While the three schools cover just about everything a mage or cleric could want or need in the ways of learning magic, there are some people who choose to dive deeper into a specific area of the Al'Noth. Not all of them are welcome in the body of the Illumination. In addition to the sects, the Illumination of Lucinda has close ties to Mistone Academy of Innovation as new ways to combine technology and magic are discovered; however, relations with Goran are strained at the moment.

Pit Stalkers

Pit Stalkers study the Pits, the Thread, and all the phenomena in between. This is a very small group associated with the Thaumaturge, and they are almost always adventuring types. Some would say a measure of insanity is also required, and although the rewards in terms of spells and power are great, the mortality rate of a Pit Stalker is roughly ten times that of a normal adventurer. They are currently based in the Castle Imjam Thaumaturge and are led by Racie Shelly and Jimman Ebbers.

Dragonlinks

Dragonlinks are associated with the Thaumaturge in Spellgard and are the world's second most sought after experts on dragon lore. While the Church of Aragen holds most of the limited knowledge regarding the great beasts that once ruled the skies of Layonara, they defer in matters of the arcane and here the Dragonlinks pick up the slack.

The largest written collection of spells known to be used by dragons exist here along with those few who understand the peculiarities of dragon magic enough to interpret and modify them. While a few of those who join spend their time attempting to translate and adapt the spells to be used by non-dragons, more go out in search of additional information from ruins, books or artifacts; very few, though, take the more dangerous route of seeking the source.

The head of this group is Rork O'Mallory who was part of negotiations with Black Plague and several other dragons around Layonara during the Dark Ages. He is also thought to have been one of the Dragon Called before Ozlo's death. He chooses no title for himself and goes simply by Rork.

Risen

While generally accepted by Lucinda's church, the Risen are sometimes seen as being on the outer fringes of the faith due to their focus on the "darker" aspects of magic. No one will deny their benefit, as this group focuses on spells that raise living shells from the grave and those magics that call souls free from the mortal coil back to the land of the living, as well as those magics which protect against life-stealing spells.

Understandably, the spellweavers and spellprayers that perform this research and the associated rituals are a practical sort, often harshly so. Even so, their activities are conducted with a respect for the living and dead alike, and they go so far as to communicate with the souls before hand, with bodies often being left upon death by devout followers for such use to further the knowledge of this rather specialized form of magic.

The Thaumaturge at Castle Imjam is known to assist them and the Pit Stalkers sometimes confer when their specialties cross. No single member claims to lead. When representation is necessary, the group chooses someone to speak for them based on who is available and one's specialty, if applicable.

Some among the Risen have wished to push beyond the self-imposed limits of the group, seeing no reason why they should limit themselves in Magic. Over time, another group has splintered from the Risen, though has since recruited members from outside the faith, has come a group that freely borrow the prestige of the Risen but shows none of the respect for the dead that the true Risen do.

This group, which admits no official name, is devoted to the art of binding souls to do one's bidding and to conducting research into extracting knowledge from the spirits of the dead as well as animating remains. They have no qualms about who or what, and they feel no moral obligation to obtain permission; what is dead is theirs to play with.

The Risen, and now by extension the Church of Lucinda, have started calling them the Mortis, believing them to be akin to Corathites in their methods. There are no known clerics of Lucinda among the members whose names are known, and this fuels the idea that the Lady herself has turned her back on them.

Given this the members of the Mortis have been declared outlaws by the rest of the church, and the group as a whole has caused a great deal of trouble for the legitimate Risen, both within the ranks of the church and in the perceptions of those outside as well.

Rumors have circulated, based on information from captured Mortis members, that there is research planned for tapping the power of souls that have not found the shelter of a god, but the degree of success of this effort and whether this is on-going is not known.

Love and Magic

Lucinda and Ilsare, friends in the heavens and both with a depth of passion for what they do, mirrors the other. This new gathering celebrates both faiths, freely mixing spellsinging, spellweaving, and archery in a potent mix. Begun by an Ilsarian sect called the Heartsong Archers, one of the founding members is Docet Ricketbarker who came to his faith in Lucinda through that group. He uses his position as head of the Spellgard Presage to spread the word when he can. With his visibility, the sect has gained acceptance and members.

The Love and Magic sect follows the tenets of both Ilsare and Lucinda and trains to protect either as well as to spread the word and delve into aspects of the Al'Noth that a straight Lucindite would not be able to tap. They are headquartered on Tilmar at the moment, studying the art, music, dance, writings, and magic of the island; though, they are not bound to any one location and will pack up and leave if the whim strikes them.

Research into mixing spellsinging with the Al'Noth is ongoing in this sect. One of these new discoveries is chromajury, the act of painting with the Al'Noth on specially blessed canvases. Discovered by influential member Misty Guanistas, the paintings are both vivid and mesmerizing. Three are working on extending the lifespan of a chromajury spell, using what is known of the Scroll of Al'Noth magic as a base.